IIMR signs deals with ‘millet-preneurs’

The strategy of ICAR-IIMR is to commercialise nutricereals based food processing technologies by licensing enterprises.

Folk artistes perform during Millets Mela at the Palace Grounds, in Bengaluru on Saturday. (Photo:DC)

Bengaluru: The second day of the International Trade Fair on Organics and Millets 2018 here saw a memorandum of understanding (MOU) being signed by the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR) with millet entrepreneurs and food processors of nutricereal processing technologies. IIMR is an arm of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), which aims to promote research and increase the production of millets, especially to help dryland farmers.

The strategy of ICAR-IIMR is to commercialise nutricereals based food processing technologies by licensing enterprises, start-ups and food processors. The listed enterprises have received licence for a combination of 20 ICAR-IIMR technologies with a technology fee averaging Rs.1.5 lakh per MOU.

The event also saw the launch of Bigbasket’s new healthy food range, ‘GoodDiet’ by Minister for Agriculture, Krishna Byre Gowda. Speaking on the occasion, he said he was happy to join the Big Basket team in introducing its new range of healthy food products as they would be made in Karnataka and create new jobs in the process.

The GoodDiet range consists of ready-to-cook mixes, roasted snacks, and other super foods. National Head, buying and merchandising, Bigbasket, Seshu Tirumala, who was also present at the launch, said the idea behind the new and healthy range of eatables was to cater to the ever-increasing demand for healthier and quicker food options. “With this, we are not only adding a new category to our existing range of health and diet products but also giving our valued customers a push towards leading healthier lives,” he said.